Pilgrim's Pride Corporation today announced a strategic capital investment plan to enhance growth with key customers and expand production of Pilgrim's Pierce Chicken brand. The USD$190 million strategy, initiated in Q4 2015, is part of a focused effort to reinvest cash flow back into the business to support sustained margin growth and improve efficiencies consistent with the Company's continued pursuit of operational excellence.
"We believe one of our competitive advantages is the valued partnership we provide to key customers," stated Bill Lovette, President and CEO, Pilgrim's Pride Corporation. "Our cash flow reinvestment plan will present opportunities for our customers to accelerate sales, improve profitability and grow their businesses. Importantly, this effort redirects cash flow back into an area of core business strength in order to maximize return on capital and enhance shareholder value."
The cash flow reinvestment plan is tailored to meet customer needs through targeted capital spending in feed production, fresh chicken, and prepared foods, including case ready. Strategic investments within the plan include, but are not limited to:
A USD$35 million investment to acquire property and construct a new feed mill in Nashville, Arkansas, to lower feed costs, enhance feed conversion and improve live poultry performance;
An USD$18 million investment at a Pilgrim's case ready facility to streamline deboning and packaging processes;
A USD$25 million investment at the Pilgrim's Moorefield, West Virginia, prepared foods facility to enhance existing fully cooked chicken lines and add an additional line to meet growth demands for the Pierce Chicken® brand;
and
A USD$20 million investment at the Pilgrim's Mayfield, Kentucky, poultry complex to reengineer the facility to improve its value-added product mix in alignment with the needs of a key customer. The project will result in the addition of approximately 150 new jobs in 2016.
Construction on a new feed mill for Pilgrim's Pride Corporation is expected to begin in early 2016, according to company spokesperson.
Pilgrim's current mill, which is located in downtown Nashville, is a much-expanded and remodelled facility which dates back to 1955. Approximately 275 contract growers are served with feed from the Nashville feed mill, which produces approximately 8,000 tonnes of feed every week. Feed ingredients arrive both by truck and rail.
The new mill is expected to meet the company's needs for the next 40-plus years.
A company spokesperson said that completion of construction is projected to be in early 2018. The new mill will support growers within the Nashville/De Queen complex.
"The new feed mill will be constructed with state of the art design using the latest technology and will be designed to support future growth within the complex," according to a company press release.
"We are excited to have the opportunity to leverage our strong balance sheet to reinvest into our Company," stated Fabio Sandri, CFO, Pilgrim's Pride Corporation. "Our strategy remains to explore every opportunity at our disposal to grow our business and create shareholder value. Today's announcement reinforces Pilgrim's commitment to operational excellence, sustainable growth and margin creation."
The total USD$190 million cash flow reinvestment represents an amount greater than the Company's depreciation allowance, further demonstrating its willingness to invest for future success.
